The Winter Sun
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!”
Winter can be a wonderful time of the year. I personally don’t mind the cold, and I love lots of snow. I especially love it when after a fresh snowfall and the snow is still holding onto the tree branches and power lines where the sun shines bright in the sky without a cloud in sight. Sometimes for fun, I pull up the recording on our house camera and marvel at the sunrise sweeping across the sky as I replay the video at a fast speed.
There is something amazing about the beauty of the sun shining in a clear sky. Unfortunately, there are also clouds that randomly creep in every now and again. In the winter they seem to hang around more than usual, and we become accustomed to the dreary overcast days. This winter it seems we have had more clouds and gray days than usual. But maybe that is consistent year over year, and I just don’t pay attention.
When we experience extended periods of overcast days, it may tend to affect our moods and we long to see the brightness and warmth of the sun again. When the sun comes back, we rejoice once again in the beauty of how it brightens up the sky and the warmth it provides, even more so during winter.
I often can’t help but sometimes liken God to the sun, similar to what Psalm 84:11 says. In that when we think about it, the sun is always there, no matter what. It’s been stationary in its suspended location since God created everything. Year after year, over thousands of years, it seems to stay the same. Persistent in its purpose, fixed in place, unaffected by anything, and always, always displaying its intense light and heat. It never fails, it never fades, it never hides, and it never loses its intense power.
It’s easy to lose sight of the sun on dreary, overcast days and we may become complacent and not even realize it’s hidden behind the clouds as we become inundated with the busyness of life, but over time we realize that we miss its light and warmth. Regardless of how long the sun stays obscured by the clouds, the fact the sun is still there blazing in full glory is never nullified.
The same can be true in life. As we face trials, challenges, or busyness, it is easy to lose sight of God in the midst of the cloudiness. We can easily forget that He’s still there, He’s still sovereign and in control, He hasn’t changed, and He hasn’t diminished in character or purpose.
I’ve been reading through the psalms again lately, and there are a few passages in the beginning where the psalmists question where God is in the midst of their pain and suffering, (Psalm 10, 13, 22 ) but then they remind themselves that He is always there even when it doesn’t seem like it. They ground themselves in the truth of God’s character by reminding themselves that He never changes nor leaves them in their situation. Like the sun, God’s glory remains despite whatever life circumstances obscure our vision of Him. We can trust that He is still present in all situations, good or bad. His love, tender care, and purposes remain steadfast.
So, the next time you are longing for the light and warmth of the “sun” during the overcast cloudiness of life, turn to the scriptures and prayer to remind you of the truths of God’s character. Remind yourself that His love never fails. He is a rock, a fortress, a present help in a time of need, His devotion to his children never fades or diminishes. He will never leave or forsake you. We can trust that like the sun He always shines bright despite our inability to see the work that He is doing.
“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ”
And one last thought, especially since we are working through Revelation in Sunday services, one day beyond this life we will behold the true and full glory of God Himself. The perfect light that will never be shrouded by clouds.
“And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.”
